Missouri Trooper on Leave After Clive Man’s Drowning Returns to Work

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Missouri – According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the trooper who was driving a boat when a Clive man drowned has been allowed to return to work.

The tropper, Anthony Piercy, was placed on administrative leave following the May 31 drowning at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Sgt. Paul Reinsch, Water Patrol spokesman, told The Register Piercy had returned to work.

Brandon Ellingson, 20, of Clive, was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated. Authorities said Ellingson was handcuffed and wearing a life jacket when he either jumped or fell overboard and drowned.

Ellingson was a graduate of Valley High School and a student at Arizona State University.

angry newt

Brian

They drapped a life jacket over his head without securing it in any way. That doesn’t count as “wearing a life jacket” in my book.

This is standard operating procedure by the water patrol, which is outrageous when they handcuff someone. After handcuffing someone, and putting a life jacket over their head (providing absolutely no safety, but adding a level of humiliation), they then proceed to drive in excess of 70MPH across some of the roughest water in the midwest while their suspect bounces around in the back. It was only a matter of time before someone died.